Faculty Responsibilities

Faculty play a large role in the implementation of accommodations for students with disabilities. Faculty members should have input and should arrange with students and the Center for Disability Services (CDS) the means for providing accommodations in a particular class. According to federal law, faculty may not refuse to provide required accommodations, question whether the disability exists when accommodations have been authorized, or ask to examine the student's documentation. AUM faculty have certain responsibilities in instructing students with disabilities and must actively participate in the accommodation process:

Work collaboratively with CDS personnel to provide authorized accommodations and support services.

Provide accommodations in a fair and timely manner.

Meet with the student as quickly as possible upon notification of special needs. Students should initiate this meeting, but faculty may take the initiative when students are reluctant to self-advocate.

Contact CDS or the 504 Officer with questions or suggestions regarding the appropriateness of a required accommodation. The faculty member should continue to provide the accommodation until it is set aside or modified by CDS or the 504 Officer.

Refer the student who is requesting an accommodation without official notification to CDS in writing or by phone. If the disability is visible (use of wheelchair, hearing aids, service dog, etc.), a requested accommodation is obviously appropriate; the faculty member should notify CDS and provide the accommodation while paperwork is being completed.

Refer students to CDS who may benefit from or qualify for CDS services.

Faculty should add a statement to their syllabus regarding disability accommodations (see example).

Syllabus Statement

It is the policy of AUM to provide appropriate modifications, accommodations or auxiliary aids to any student with a documented disability as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008. It is the student's responsibility to request accommodations and provide appropriate documentation. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Center for Disability Services (CDS) in Room 147 Taylor Center or call CDS at (334) 244-3631 prior to or upon enrollment at AUM.

Memo Notification Procedure

CDS students have been instructed to hand deliver their accommodation memos to faculty, set up a meeting time outside of class, and discuss the requests for specific accommodations as listed in the accommodation memo. During this meeting, the instructor and student should determine which, if any, accommodations will be requested. Students can request accommodations with reasonable notification at any point during the semester. During this meeting, students and instructors are encouraged to sign the CDS Accommodation Contract, make a copy for the instructor's records, and return the original through campus mail to CDS.

If you have any questions regarding accommodation issues please contact one of the following individuals: